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RHP Josh Burgmann (Nanaimo, BC) was on the mound as Canada opened its eight-game exhibition series against Australia leading into the World Cup in Osaka, Japan.

By Adam MorissetteBaseball CanadaSURFERS PARADISE, Australia _ The Australian U18 National Team used a five run fourth inning to break a 2-2 tie and they held on to defeat the Canadian U18 Junior National Team, 7-2 in the opening game of an eight game series between the two nations.

Both teams will use the series to determine their 20 player rosters that will compete in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Osaka, Japan from Aug. 28–Sept. 6.

HOW IT HAPPENED- Canada opened the scoring in the top of the first scoring a run when Luke Van Rycheghem (Kent Bridge, Ont.) singled up the middle to bring in Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) from second base. Orimoloye had reached on a fielder’s choice that saw Adam Hall (London, Ont.) thrown out at home plate trying to score from third base on a chopper to the third baseman. Hall had led off with a single up the middle before moving to third on a wild pitch and ground out.

- Hall picked up his second hit of the game in the second when he lined a single to centre that scored JF Garon (Terrebonne, Que.) before Cooper Davis (Mississauga, Ont.) was thrown out at home while trying to score on the play.

- The Aussies answered back in the home half of the second as they scored two runs off Canadian starter Josh Burgmann (Nanaimo, BC). They used three consecutive singles to score one run while the other scored on a sacrifice fly.

- Burgmann bounced back with a scoreless inning in the third but the Aussies got to him in the fourth as they chased him from the game scoring five runs on five hits. Five wild pitches and a pair of passed balls also played a hand in the inning that saw Australia take a five run lead.

JNT HIGHLIGHTS- Burgmann was solid on the mound with scoreless frames in the first and third. He registered a pair of strikeouts in each frame for his game high of four.

- Mathieu Deneault-Gauthier (Candiac, Que.) took over for Burgmann in the fourth with nobody out and got a strikeout and double play after allowing a single. In total he worked three scoreless innings, scattered four hits and a walk, while fanning three batters.

- Both William Sierra (Montréal, Que.) and Matteo Vincelli (Burnaby, BC) made their debuts with the Junior National Team and each worked a scoreless inning. Sierra threw the seventh and issued one walk and also struck out one batter, while Vincelli had two strikeouts and got a fly-out in a perfect eighth inning.

- OF Cooper Davis also made his JNT debut and went 1-for-3 at the plate and played the entire game in centre field.

- Canada had eight hits with Hall and Garon collecting two apiece. Hall drove in one run with Garon scoring on the play in the second inning.

- Brad Aldred (Whitby, Ont.) had Canada’s only extra base hit as he led off the fifth with a double to right-centre.

UP NEXTCanada and Australia will play game two of the eight game series tomorrow at Surfers Paradise Baseball Field at 1pm GMT/11pm ET (0817) … RHP Nick Virdo (Brampton, Ont.) is expected to start on the mound for Canada.

Follow the action with live scoring:Statistics: www.livestats.baseball.com.au/2015/U18Series/confstat.htmResults: www.livestats.baseball.com.au/2015/U18Series/lgsumm.htmLive Scoring: www.livestats.baseball.com.au/2015/U18Series/xlive.htm

Adam Morissette was born and raised in Ottawa, Ont. where sports were always a big part of his life whether it be baseball, hockey or football, including playing two seasons as centre for coach Pat Sheahan with the Queen's University Golden Gaels in Kingston -- Canada's first capital. Morissette has always have been passionate about baseball and has fond memories of attending Montreal Expos games with his father, Mike, and listening to his recollection of watching baseball in Montreal at Jarry Park and stories about Gary Carter, Rusty Staub and Steve Rodgers. Morissette could often be found in a near empty Lynx Stadium watching Joe Siddall, Bert Heffernan, Curtis Pride and Jamie Carroll soaking in a beautiful summer night at the ballpark. He was a member of the provincial championship Orleans Red Sox Little League teams also played with the Ottawa White Sox for the late Lyle Anderson and Todd Burke in OBA Midget and American Legion play and the Capital City Crushers (NCBL), primarily as a catcher. Has also spent time coaching Little League in Orleans and South Ottawa. He wanted to turn his passion into a career and enrolled in Sport Business Management at Algonquin College in Ottawa in 2007. After working for the Ottawa 67's OHL team as the Ticket Coordinator, Morissette jumped at the opportunity to become the Media and Public Relations Coordinator with Baseball Canada in 2010. He loves watching and reading about pro, college or amateur baseball and is a long-time subscriber to Baseball America. Morissette is thrilled about the idea of writing about baseball and is interested in covering any story that his car -- and time -- will allow him to cover.

Canadian Baseball Network

The Canadian Baseball Network ( CBN ) promotes Canadian Baseball players and teams from coast to coast. The Canadian Baseball Network features our Draft List, ranking the top Canadianbaseballprospects and featured articles.